TALLAHASSEE – When it comes to “parent trigger,” history repeats itself.

A tie vote in the Florida Senate on Tuesday effectively killed a measure to give parents a greater voice in turning around schools that have failed two years in a row  under the state grading system. Supporters will have to try again next year.

The vote followed an hour of emotional debate, where opponents charged it with being a stalking horse for a “corporate takeover” of public schools, but supporters said it was a way to give parents a voice in consistently failing schools.

Opponents included Palm Beach County’s Democratic senators Joe Abruzzo and Jeff Clemens.

As it did last year, a companion bill passed the House earlier in the session.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland.

Even an amendment that watered down the bill by giving the final say over school turnaround options to local school boards rather than the state board of education failed to garner enough Senate support.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Joe Saunders

Joe Saunders, a 25-year newspaper veteran, is a staff writer and editor for BizPac Review who lives in Tallahassee and covers capital and Florida politics. Email Joe at [email protected].

Latest posts by Joe Saunders (see all)

• Pelosi goes off the deep end when asked if a baby is human; ‘might be the dumbest response in history’ - October 1, 2015
• GOP congressman, whose mom died of breast cancer, explodes: ‘I’m tired of getting lectures from Democrats!’ - October 1, 2015
• Undercover sting catches Hillary worker breaking law: Hispanic voter sign-up using ‘Trump’s ‘bi**hface’ - October 1, 2015

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.